I genuinely don't know where to begin with all the messages I've read. I'd love to quote everyone but it would end up being the longest post ever. I did feel as though I ruined everyone's day last Wednesday!
I totally get people's connection with the site, two decades is a long time for anyone and many of us will have major changes and life events in that space of time. So for someone visiting day in day out I know just how nice it could be that something familiar was 'just there'.
Thank you so much for everything you've all said - your tributes, memories and your well wishes. It genuinely was a hard decision, forums naturally have peaks and troughs of course so I did let myself sit on this for some time to make sure it's right. I haven't just run the site as a mod/admin but as someone genuinely interested in talking about presentation with a bunch of like-minded people. That's the whole reason the site came to be - I'd had some lovely emails about TV Home, people pointing out their favourite clips etc. so it seemed obvious to let them talk about it with others. With respect to TV Ark, their message board wasn't the most usable and not particularly active at the time. Understandable given how great the main site was. I think the only other alternative was NotBBC, but that was text only which seemed a bit poor when we are talking about a very visual medium, wanting to show of captures and clips.
The thought that people have forged careers in the industry with a little help from this site is incredible. I’ve heard a few stories over the years but some on here are completely new to me and it's been great to read them.
Thanks too for the comments around the design and coding. I know some standard software and template would have done the job but I really wanted to create something a little bit different - right back to the early days of hacking the Ikonboard code to shoehorn in the ITV/BBC region information. It's been great to know that in general the changes have always gone down well, with the odd tweak here and there.
Thanks(!) for reminding people of Liquid News and Quizmania
I actually apologised to Greg as I genuinely wasn't trying some innuendo bingo stunt! I was doing my dissertation, naturally with QM on in the background and just thought I'd ring up. Didn't think in a million years I'd be put straight through to the studio, hadn't been particularly concentrating and just blurted out the first thing I could think of.
Liquid News was just fantastic. With huge thanks to Nicky S for even suggesting me. I feel for poor Steph West and her cameraman because when they came to Victoria Station to pick me up they must have thought I was some sort of Blue Peter competition winner. But the opportunity to visit the office of Lambie-Nairn and meet the great man himself was incredible. And then to be driven to
TVC and see this building looming up in front of me, one I'd seen on the telly since I was a kid was just incredible. I went to the production office where they were prepping the idents to show me on the big screen and then taken down to the studio to do that bit where I give my reaction. Rumour has it I was also going to be interviewed live by Chris on the night, but they got hold of Peta Clifton (Head of Marketing) in the end. Can't really argue with that booking. They'd arranged a taxi for me, presumably on the understanding that once a guest had done their bit, they'd want to leave as quickly as possible. Obviously that's the last thing I wanted to do! Thankfully someone maybe sensed that and asked if I'd like to be at the back of the gallery to watch it go out live.
I was also very fortunate to visit GMB a few years ago and whatever your opinion may be on the editorial content, or Piers' time there or whatever, it was amazing to see a genuinely dedicated bunch of people wanting to produce a great show at that ungodly hour! To be in Studio 5 at half 5 in the morning was surreal. I'm still not sure I took it all in. But again, being in the gallery gave such a great vantage point of how a show is put together. Having a cheeky nose around the rest of
TLS, down to the bit when Ant & Dec would sometimes do their behind the scenes bits to camera was the icing on the cake. So lucky to see it before it went
What a history that building had.
In terms of going read-only, the site will become completely static so this will mean no login facility - the accounts will effectively be deleted. So please make a note of any PMs or grab alternative contact details for people. Requests forum will be made public. I'll add more signposting around the site about the news in the coming days.
TV Home will continue, I hope that continues to be a useful resource.
And an amazing mock again pip2! The Sky News one really brings home just how many years it has been!
I wish Rob and anyone else contemplating a forum all the best with it.